Bob Mould "Sunshine Rock (Merge)"
Check out the name of the new Bob Mould record! Does that mean Bob Mould is “happy”? Is he ever happy? Wait, is this a HAPPY ALBUM? With the title SUNSHINE ROCK you can start to think maybe, JUST MAYBE Bob has gone all Partridge Family on us. But alas, under the wall of churning guitars and power choruses is BOB MOULD. How does the guy do it? Album after album, song after song, the man has written more good words then Karl Ove Knausgård and more songs then Aleksander Vinter better known as Savant (yeah google it). Dig in to the title track, ”Sunshine Rock” and get ready for the next one!
Charlie Faye & The Fayettes "The Whole Shebang"
Hailing from Austin, Charlie Faye and the Fayettes return for The Whole Shebang. No second album syndrome here – The Whole Shebang is actually a step up in production, songwriting and–of course–back-up vocals. Are The Fayettes the new Pips? Will they take that midnight train to Georgia (Austin to Georgia? That probably isn’t a thing, maybe they should just Uber)? Well as Charlie proudly declares in “The Cream Rises To The Top” – “They can’t deny me now I’m blowing up, I’m never gonna stop”. Charlie and her “ettes” are at the top of the (I don’t always love using genre names but there’s no denying the sound) retro girl group thing. Check out “I Don’t Need No Baby” and the title track because Charlie Faye & The Fayettes have the whole shebang in the bag!
Xiu Xiu "Girl With Basket Of Fruit (Polyvinyl)"
Xiu Xiu is a reflection of us as a society. Their latest album, Girl With Basket Of Fruit (Polyvinyl), is “imbued with the agitation, tension, sorrow and anger that has permeated the daily lives of so many over the last few years.” Thanks PV PR for so succinctly putting into words the ideas that were forming in my agitated, tense, sorrowful, and angry brain. See! The band really IS a reflection of us! OR at least me… As weird and as wonderful as they have always been, with a bit more of an edge then they normally have. Xiu Xiu are as mad as hell, and they aren’t gonna take it anymore! Check out “Scisssssssors” and whatever you do DON’T RUN WITH THIS SONG!
Beirut "Gallipoli (4AD)"
The sound of Beirut’s music was so singular when it was first released that Zach Condon found himself in a bit of a predicament. Once people heard the unique mixture of trumpets, flugelhorns, organs, accordions, and other instruments synonymous with Beruit’s chamber-pop sound, how could he ever stray and retain his fan base? Well, for one, Zach writes amazing songs, which helps. For two, Gallipoli (4AD), his 5th album, combines the best aspects of his original sound with the sounds he’s been exploring since releasing those original albums. So it doesn’t even matter. Don’t believe me? Check out the absolutely glowing review of the LP over at The Line Of Best Fit. They don’t write “In all Galipolli is the sound of one of our most talented musicians rediscovering his love for what he was born to do” for just anything (it would be weird if they did, since I’m assuming this is the only album ever titled as such). Check out the title track “Gallipoli.”